Autoblog

The motor racing world was bereaved this week to learn of the passing of Dino Toso. The former director of aerodynamics for Renault F1 was diagnosed with cancer back in 2004, but continued to work until two months ago.

Toso came from the aerospace industry and started his career in motorsports in 1995 with BMW's GT program before being picked up by Jordan Grand Prix in 1997. He then moved with Mike Gascoyne to Renault in 2000, where he remained until this year, playing a central role in the back-to-back drivers' and constructors' titles which the team won in 2005 and 2006. He was named Aerodynamicist of the Year in 2005. In a statement released earlier, fellow Italian Flavio Briatore noted, "His contribution to the team, both through his results and his courage in the face of illness, are an inspiration. He will be missed enormously and the immediate thoughts of the whole team are with his family."

Dino passed away at the young age of 39 on Wednesday morning. Our condolences go out to his friends, family and colleagues.

[Source: Autosport, Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty]

Last month Renault became the second manufacturer participating in F1 this year to be accused of spying on its competitors. In this case, the Renault team was accused of "unauthorized possession of documents and confidential information" pertaining to McLaren's F1 cars. We recognize the ironic twist of fate that McLaren was accused and convicted of spying on Ferrari last summer and penalized by being stripped of all its constructors' championship points for the 2007 season and fined a record $100,000,000 USD. Today Renault was also found guilty of possessing documents on McLaren's cars that included details about "the McLaren fueling system, gear assembly, oil cooling system, hydraulic control system and a novel suspension component used by the 2006 and 2007 McLaren F1 cars." What was Renault's punishment for its crime? Nothing. Though it technically was in breach of article 151c of the International Sporting Code, Renault's getting off scott free. We bet McLaren is none too happy with this verdict considering the heavy penalty its team has paid for their snooping, but the FIA's ruling stands.

Thanks for the tip, Richard!

[Source: f1-live.com]

It's widely being reported now that ace F1 driver Fernando Alonso has signed a letter of intent to rejoin Renault, his former team that he left this year to drive for McLaren-Mercedes. That, as we all know, hasn't turned out so well, with Alonso and his fellow teammate Lewis Hamilton constantly talking smack about each other or not talking to each other at all.

The signed letter of intent is reportedly a preamble for a three-year contract lasting from the 2008 season through 2010 and worth over $100 million. The deal hinges, however, on whether or not Alonso can get out of his current contract with McLaren that extends through the 2008 season with an option for 2009. If Alonso and Lewis keep acting like squabbling siblings, then McLaren may be more than happy to unload the champion to restore peace and order.

[Source: F1-Live.com, photo by Clive Mason/Getty]

Rumor has it that Brazilian Nelson Piquet Jr. has signed with Renault F1 to be the team's third driver in 2007. Together with McLaren protege Lewis Hamilton, Piquet Jr. has dominated this year's GP2 championship, and a move to Formula 1 has been expected since 2005, when he tested for Williams F1.

"Nelsinho" is the son of three-time world champion Nelson Piquet, who retired from Formula 1 in 1991. Interestingly, Piquet Sr.'s first world championship came with the Brabham team, then managed by none other than Bernie Ecclestone.

The rumor suggests that current third driver Heikki Kovaleinen will be promoted to race alongside Giancarlo Fisichella in 2007, after the departure of world champion Fernando Alonso for more lucrative pastures at McLaren. And this in turn suggests that Kimi Raikkonen will either stay at McLaren to race alongside Alonso, or move to Ferrari, possibly partnering with Michael Schumacher.

[Source: Le Blog Auto]

With the new Clio RenaultSport set to take Europe by storm, the French automaker is working overtime to associate the new hot hatch with its enormously successful Formula One program. The 197-horsepower Clio is a car that should give the VW GTI fits, with comparable performance and styling that is equally eye-catching. Most remarkably, the F1 associations are not totally outlandish, as the Clio RS uses aerodymamics inspired by Renault's world-beating race program, including a completely functional rear diffuser and extractor vents in the front fenders.

The Clio RenaultSport goes on sale this Friday and starts at 23,000 Euros. If you're on the continent, you can satisfy your inner Fernando to the tune of 100hp/liter.

North Americans, as usual, get to sit back and be jealous. Sigh.

(Many, many more pictures after the jump)

[Source: Renault]